Q&A: Ben Fordham, 43, radio host

Radio host Ben Fordham on taking over from Alan Jones, his political beliefs — and his unusual shower ritual...

“My alarm rings at 2.59am”: Ben Fordham. Picture: Nic Walker

It’s a tough gig taking over from Alan Jones, one of Australia’s most successful shock jocks… For years I’ve said you’d have to be an idiot to follow Alan Jones in to bat. You’d be just setting yourself up for failure. So when 2GB approached me I told them “no” five or six times. It was actually the two most influential people in my life, my wife Jodie and my mum Veronica, who convinced me otherwise. I gave Jodie the power to veto; she told me to stop being such a pussy and to make my own decisions and that she’d back me either way. And mum – we call her the Big Kahuna in the family – she’s a shrewd operator and negotiator. The deal with 2GB was done during lockdown and I had her on a conference call with the station’s management, looking out for my best interests. You can’t hoodwink the Kahuna.

Your dad, John Fordham – a longtime celebrity agent, including to Alan Jones – died last year. What would he have thought about you taking over Jones’ slot? Dad would have been thrilled. It is a shame he wasn’t alive to see it, but he got to see plenty of developments in my career.

Before jumping into Jones’ chair you sought the advice of some radio legends. What were their tips? Jonesy told me to just try to be myself: “Don’t try to be Alan Jones, because you are not.” I sought the advice of a bunch of others: Ray Hadley, Ross Stevenson at 3AW… to Eddie McGuire and Fitzy and Wippa over at Nova. For Lawsy [John Laws], I bought a bottle of Wild Turkey and went around to his house. It was a gesture of respect as much as anything else. By the end of the night he was still standing. Me, not so much. I’m sure he imparted some sage advice throughout the long evening but I’m struggling to remember much of it.

Jones was a partisan warrior. How do you see yourself? I come from a conservative upbringing as far as politics is concerned, but I have some progressive views on certain topics. For example, I was the first person on 2GB to support same-sex marriage. I spent a lot of time trying to change Tony Abbott’s view on it. I like to think that I am not easy to put in a box when it comes to my views. I’ve said to Anthony Albanese that I like to play everything straight. He had a chuckle and said, “I don’t know if it is entirely straight.” I’ve set up a system where certain people can call in and they’ll be put straight on air. The PM is on the list, as is NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Albo is also on the list and just this morning he called in at 6.30am — he was on the way to Yass and wanted to have a yak about something.

Do you see yourself as a journalist or a commentator? I’m both. I started off as a journalist and journalism is at the heart of what I do. I want to know the who, what, when, where and why. And then, as a commentator, I want to predict what will happen next.

The on-air start time is 5.30am; is it as brutal as it sounds? Yes. My alarm rings at 2.59am. I’ve got three kids under five and the worst thing I could do is wake them up, so I use an outdoor shower. When it’s winter and raining you really know that you are alive – don’t worry, I’ve had a handyman plug the gaps in the fence. People ask about tiredness and the lack of sleep but I have no problem being motivated. I am motivated every day by fear of failure. I’m shit scared that sometime between 5.30am and 9am I am going to run out of things to say or guests to talk to.

Does it help having a wife who is in the same industry? One hundred per cent. Jodie [Jodie Speers is Channel Seven’s Early News presenter] is a great reporter. In this game, when the news is happening we both know you have to be available.

Does she listen to your show? We have a babysitter come in very early to look after the kids. Jodie’s on air from 5am until 5.30am and so she listens to my show on the way home. I know she’s listening because occasionally I’ll tell a family story and if I say something that pisses her off, or I’ve slightly misquoted her, my phone will rattle with a text message. I then have to come back after the break and say, “Jodie just wanted me to clarify something…”

The first rating survey, which showed you held Jones’ audience, must have been satisfying. It was great for the team to see that all the hard work had paid off. For me it was a huge relief. Internally, for me, it was like I’d been banging my head against the wall for a couple of months. And then getting that rating meant I could stop the banging. It wasn’t joy, it was a relief from pain.